Windows 10 – upgrade from HOME to PRO with Windows 7 or 8 PRO license

The Windows 10 HOME version may have some limitations if one uses it to access the work environment from home for example. While most users won’t have probably won’t have Windows 7 or 8 PRO license lying around, this great write up documents how to put it to work to improve WIN10 capabilities.

You’ve got a new PC running Windows 10 Home. You want to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. Here’s how to get that upgrade for free. All you need is a Pro/Ultimate product key from an older version of Windows.

If you purchase a new PC with Windows 10 Home preinstalled, prepare to be annoyed. This down-market edition doesn’t have the features you need for getting real work done: Remote Desktop server access, BitLocker disk encryption, group policy support, and control over when updates get installed, just for starters. You could pay $99 for an upgrade, but before you reach for your wallet, consider a less expensive option.

Do you have an old product key from Windows 7 Pro, Windows 7 Ultimate, or Windows 8/8.1 Pro lying around? Those keys can be reused to enable an upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro, potentially saving you the upgrade fee. In fact, you can use a product key from any of these older Windows versions to perform a clean install or to upgrade to Pro.